Sustainability in focus: Generali EnterPrize competition for the 15 million HUF prize is launched

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 05. 06. 10:23

This year, the Generali Group is announcing the EnterPRIZE international program, which supports the sustainability efforts of small and medium-sized enterprises, in three categories. The aim of the competition is to support the economic strengthening, renewal and sustainable development of the Hungarian SME sector.

The companies will receive a total of 15 million forints in gross support: the best environmental competition will receive 7 million forints, while the winners of the employee well-being and microenvironmental responsibility categories will receive 4 million forints each.

Encouraging sustainable business models is key – draws attention to the White Paper published jointly by the Generali Group and the Italian SDA Bocconi for the fourth time. The amount of resources provided for sustainability efforts is a major challenge in Eastern European countries, including Hungary.

Institutional support is essential for the green transition

The sustainable transition of European SMEs could be more effectively supported by simplifying regulatory frameworks, introducing tax incentives and introducing targeted financial solutions, says the White Paper, which was prepared in 10 countries and surveyed 1,260 European SMEs. According to the research, companies have started on the path of the green transition, but institutional support is a key challenge in most countries. In Slovenia, 66% of responding companies cited the lack of community incentives as a key problem, followed by Hungary with 64% and the Czech Republic with 59%. This suggests that the lack of support for sustainability efforts is a particularly big challenge in Eastern European markets.

The White Paper also examined awareness of extreme weather events and climate risks. 69% of companies recognize the risks, and only 31% of companies have insurance against this type of damage. However, our country is at the forefront of the use of traditional insurance against extreme climate events: 39% of SMEs in Germany have such coverage, followed by Hungary with 37%, and Austria with 33%.

The survey also highlights the need to encourage the development and implementation of sustainable business models. The sustainability plans and goals of the SME sector are therefore supported across Europe by the Generali Group’s international business development and awareness-raising program, EnterPRIZE, launched in 2021, which the Hungarian Generali Insurance Company has also joined.